I am a huge fan of Fred Van Lente’s history comics. He’s written Action Presidents!, Action Philosophers, and my favorite, The Comic Book History of Comics.
His latest book has just finished crowdfunding via Clover Press — but you can still late pledge for a copy. Gamemasters: The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games is illustrated by Tom Fowler and tentatively due in March 2025. It’s $35 (plus yet-unspecified shipping) for a hardcover copy; also available are slipcased editions, signed editions, and original art pages. You can’t get the digital copy any more, though.
I am not this kind of gamer, but I had the pleasure of reading some preview chapters, and as expected, it was a fascinating read, ranging from the prehistory of chess and war games through the origin of Avalon Hill and the creation of Dungeons & Dragons. It’s beautifully illustrated with art that contributes information, making it more than an illustrated essay (a risk with some non-fiction comics).
Here’s a sample page, and visit ComicsBeat.com for a black-and-white digital “ashcan” of the first chapter.
English (US) · 